Sap-bucket cover.



Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

P. REYNOLDS.

SAP BUCKET COVER.

- APPLIGATION :FILED MALzz. 1912.

ammo@ fa ZM jit/mlr @31a 5W@ @v1-mom PAUL REYNOLDS, OF FRANKLINVILLE, NEW YORK.

SAP-BUCKET COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent. p

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed March 22, 1912. Serial No. 685,464.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at F ranklinville, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements ,in Sap-Bucket Covers, of which the following is a specification.

r1`his invention relates to sap bucket covers, the object of the invention being to provide a novel form of cover embodying means whereby it is securely fastened to the ordinary sap spout, so that the operator is only required to tip the co-Ver upward and backward against the tree, whereupon the bucket is perfectly free to be removed from the sap spout.

W'ith the style of cover at present in use, it is necessary to spring the saine 0H of the top of the bucket and in the event of there being ice in the bucket, it is necessary to remove the cover and lay it upon the ground before emptying the bucket, it being subsequently necessary to snap the cover again upon the bucket and hang the same up. The present invention overcomes this difficulty and annoyance and results in a cleaner product by reason of the facility for handling the cover and the bucket.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a bucket supported by a sap spout driven into a tree and illustrating the improved cover in its applied position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed vertical section, taken in line with the spout. Fig. 3 is a detail cross section taken at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sap spout.

The cover as a whole is preferably made circular or disk-shaped and is divided along the chord line 1 into two segments, a relatively large segment 2v and a small segment 3, the said segments being hinged together, as shown at 4, and one of said segments being provided with a projecting lip or flange 5, which coperates with the other segment to sustain the larger segment in a substantially horizontal position, or in other words, to limit the downward movement of said larger segment.

The sap spout is shown as comprising the gutter-shaped body 6 provided at its eX- tremity with an impact face or shoulder 7 adapting the sap spout to be driven into a tree. Atits opposite end the sap spout is provided with a driving point 8 of crucil form shape to form the necessary cut in the surface of the tree to which it is to be attached.

J ust back of the cutting point there is an enlarged annular shoulder 9 extending downwardly, from which is a bucket supporting hook 10, upon which the bail of the bucket is adapted to be placed. Holes 11 are formed in the inner end of the guttershaped body of the sap spout, for the purpose of admitting the sap or syrup to said gutter along which it moves preparatory to finding its way into the bucket supported by the hook of the sap spout.

In order to secure the cover to the sap spout the smaller segment 3 of the cover is provided with a slot 12 to receive the eye 13 of an eye bolt 14, the shank of which passes upward thro-ugh the top wall 15 on the three sided projecting cap 16 secured to the top surface of the smaller segment 3, in any convenient manner, as by means of prongs or extensions 17 passing through holes in the cover and clenched beneath the same, as indicated in the drawings. rlhe nut 1S of the eye bolt bears directly upon the top wall 15 of the protecting cap and draws the eye of the bolt tightly around the gutter-shaped body of the sap spout. In order to form a more secure hold on the sap spout, the lower surface of the gutter-shaped body of the spout may be corrugated or toothed, as shown at 19.

By using the eye bolt fastening device, hereinabove described, there is no danger of the cover working loose from the sap spout and being blown off the top of thek bucket, and yet it allows the cover to be easily lifted and thrown back against the tree, and furthermore the cover may be applied more closely to the bucket than in the old way.

The necessity for an invention of this kind has been brought about by the demand on the part of the public for cleaner sugar and syrup.

I claim :A

1. A sap bucket cover embodying relatively large and small segments hinged together, and means for securing the smaller segment to a sap spout consisting of an eye bolt working through a slot in the smaller segment and adapted to embrace the sap spout.

2. A sap bucket cover embodying relatively large and small segments hinged together, and means for securing the smaller segment to a sap spout consisting of an eye bolt working through a slot in the smaller segment, and adapted to embrace the sap spout, and a cap covering the slot in the smaller segment and forming a bearing for the nut of the eye bolt.

3. A sap bucket cover embodying relatively large and small segments hinged together, a stop flange on one of the segments for limiting the downward movement of the larger segment, and means for securing the smaller segment to a sap spout consisting of an eye bolt working through the slot in the smaller segment,l and adapted to embrace the sap spout.

In vtestimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

MARY pP. CURTIS, ARoHm L. REYNOLDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

